MENU
"All I Do" is our country tune about national anxiety, partly inspired by the lighthearted Beatles lament on Track 13, "What Goes On." Music and Lyrics by Taylor Branch, Bill Guy, and John Yelverton
Worry. Is all I do.
A worried home means I don’t have you
Since you left me when the roof gave in
This drowning worry is where I’ve been
Did I go poorer in a wealthy land?
Somebody help me, understand
Could I go poorer in a wealthy land
Or did my country turn poor on me?
Worry. Is here to stay.
I’ve got a plan most every day
It keeps me hangin’ on to my next beer
And my cold pillow while you’re not here
They say perfessors are worried, too
So is my doctor, who’s got a pill
With nasty side effects that leave me ill
And missing you
My last job. Didn’t last.
Sweat don’t pay like in the past
Lord, show me everything that’s cheating me
And ease my worry where I can’t see
Did I go poorer in a wealthy land?
Somebody help me, understand
Could I go poorer in a wealthy land
Or did my country turn poor on me?
Worry. Is all I do. Worry. All I do. Worry. I do. Worry. Missin’ you.
"A Better Baby" morphs from raw and nasty, like Mick Jagger dumping a girlfriend, into adorable surprise with guest vocals from a one-day-old grandchild. Music and Lyrics by Taylor Branch, Bill Guy, and John Yelverton
Would it be bad, if I told you I had, a better baby?
Could you rebound, if I told you I found, a better baby?
Out of nowhere, she’s stealing my heart, you see?
So let me confess to you, she’s a better baby (A better baby)
Here she comes now, could you ever allow, she’s a better baby
It’s hard for me too, how she’s looking at you, a better baby (A better baby)
Cut me in half, new love hurts so good
Take joy, let go, hello, she’s a better baby (A
better baby)
A better baby. (A better baby.)
(No one can help it.) I want to hold her.
(A sweet embrace now.) I’ve got to hold her
(There’s no disgrace now.) Oh, let me hold her
(No one can help it.) I want to hold her now
Every world ends just like it begins, with a special baby
New love pushes in, whoa, you never know when, a better baby (A better baby)
So come together, and somehow we’ll see
A tiny face now will always be
Our baby’s baby (yeah-yeah-yeah)
(our baby’s baby)
Our baby’s baby (yeah-yeah-yeah) (our baby’s baby)
[Instrumental, with baby noises]
(Look at you hold her.) Our baby’s baby.
(A sweet embrace now.) Ain’t she a grand baby?
(A touch of grace now.) A better baby.
(We want to hold her.) Not yet but maybe.
(Her mom said so now.) We’ll let her go now.
(A
touch of grace now.) Our baby’s baby.
(Let love enfold her.) A better baby. A better baby.
A better baby. A better baby. Whoa.
"Back In Philly" revives the Founding Fathers in high school for a hard rock satire on juvenile U.S. politics. Music and Lyrics by Taylor Branch, Bill Guy, and John Yelverton
Back in Philly, way back in Philly
We were rockin’ when the Red Coats went home
Two parties jumpin’
Mega-dollar humpin’
Stirrin’ up a caucus
Never been so raucous
Howlin’ let the buffalo roam
Founding fathers in high school
We’ve been somethin’ to see
Swingin’ wild and lookin’ cool
Tossin’ spitballs like me
Foundin’ fathers back in high school
Provin’ freedom ain’t free
Back in Philly, way back in Philly
We been dancin’ on a playground of woe
Everybody gettin’ spun
Lady G an’ Jefferson
Painted up their very best
Honest Abe, Kanye West
Superstars jivin’ toe to toe
Back in Philly, way back in Philly
We been zappin’ cooties everywhere
Rappin’ out our troubles
Anchors blowin’ bubbles
Feelin’ all enlightened
Fightin’ and inctin’
Powdered dogies in the air
Foundin’ fathers in high school
We’ve been somethin’ to see
Swingin’ wild and lookin’ cool
Tossin’ spitballs like me
Foundin’ fathers back in high school
Provin’ freedom ain’t free
Foundin’ fathers in high school
Tellin’ everybody what to do
When we wrote “We the People”
We weren’t thinking of you
"There She Is" is our tribute to the great Roy Orbison. His typical scared, fumbling man faces a climactic melodrama with the perfect woman. Music and Lyrics by Taylor Branch, Bill Guy, and John Yelverton
There she is. Am I OK?
Don’t look at her. Find something to say.
Not like last time. Oh, no. Oh, no.
She sees me. I know what she’ll do.
Come right over. And ask how are you.
Where’d my tongue go? Oh, no. Oh, no.
Uh-huh, is all I said. That meant I love you.
Oh, please understand the heart of a man that’s true.
Uh-huh. That means I love you.
Here she is. Her eyes right on me.
My head is pounding. It’s too cold to breathe.
Don’t turn away. Oh, no. Oh, no.
Is that a smile? A cruel way to end.
Let’s get it over. I’m frozen again.
Is she speaking? Oh, no. Oh, no.
Uh, huh, she says out loud. I think you love me.
I feel what’s inside the man I have dreamed could be free.
She says. I could love you.
She says. I could love you.
Uh-huh. She means I love you.
I say. Uh-huh, I love you.
Oh, yes. We can say. At last we’re OK.
No dreams paralyzed by yesterday.
Uh-huh-uh-uh-uh. Uh-huh-uh-uh-uh.
Means I—I, I—I, I—I, I—luv you.